USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Ridgefield > The history of Ridgefield, Conn. : from its first settlement to the present time > Part 7
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Among the most familiar names in the town a half century ago was that of General Joshua King. He was the father of the present Hon. Joshua I. King, who in 1849 represented the eleventh district in the State Senate, and of the late Rufus H. King, a well-known merchant of Albany.
When General King was but seventeen years of age he enlisted in the regular army, and served with great bravery and fidelity until the close of the war.
At the time of Major Andre's capture, General King (then Lieutenant in the Second Regiment of Light Dragoons, under Colonel Sheldon) was stationed in South Salem. The house which was occupied by Lieutenant King, and which has been but recently re- moved, stood about one mile north of the Presbyterian Church.
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RESIDENCE OF HON. JOSHUA I. KING.
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The morning after the capture of Andre, he was brought to Lieutenant King's quarters. Lieutenant King was at the moment being shaved. After his valet had finished the operation and had dressed his hair, Lieutenant King turned to his prisoner and polite- ly inquired if like services would not also be agreeable to him. Lieutenant King did not at the time recog- nize in Major Andre so distinguished a personage, but was nevertheless impressed with the belief that what- ever his rank as a soldier might be, he was at all events a gentleman. His dusty and somewhat rusty garments, his soiled and travel-stained linen could not effectually hide those distinctive marks which always betray re- finement and culture.
Major Andre readily accepted the kind offer, and was soon under the careful manipulations of the valet. As soon as the powder began to fly from the prisoner's hair, the Lieutenant was convinced that he was by no means an ordinary man.
After being shaved and having his hair dressed, he courteously asked the privilege of retiring to his bed, that he might have his soiled linen washed. Lieuten- ant King assured him that such a step would be un- necessary, as he himself would supply him with what- ever change he might desire. The Major, with many expressions of gratitude, availed himself of the Lieu- tenant's hospitality, and soon appeared in a much im- proved condition. The most friendly relations, consist- ent with their respective positions, at once sprang up between the two; they walked and talked as inclination led, and at night occupied the same bed.
The Lieutenant and two of his men were detailed to convey Major Andre to head-quarters. While on their
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way a despatch informed General King for the first who his illustrious prisoner was ; that he was no less a personage than the Adjutant-General of the British Army, that he was suspected of being a spy, and hold- ing a treasonable correspondence with Arnold, for the surrender of West Point. So soon as the message was received, Major Andre eagerly inquired whether Arnold had actually succeeded in making his escape, evincing seemingly more interest in Arnold's safety than in his own.
After they arrived at head-quarters, General King's relations with the prisoner were no less intimate; al- though closely confined, he remained with him till his execution, even walking with him to the gallows.
In relating the circumstances afterward to a friend, General King said that when Andre first caught sight of the fatal gibbet he gave a sudden start, and ex- claimed, " I am reconciled to death, but not to the mode," and added, "it will be but a momentary pang." "
On arriving at the spot, the brave and accomplished young officer mounted the cart, adjusted the rope to his neck with his own hands, and paid the penalty of his unsuccessful espionage.
In the year 1817, General King was written to by a friend who desired to know the exact facts in relation to Major Andre's capture, etc. The following letter was written by General King in reply, and although previously solicited for publication, is now for the first given to the public :
" RIDGEFIELD, June 17th, 1817.
"DEAR SIR : Yours of the 9th is before me. I have noted the con- tents and am sorry to express the indignation I feel at the idea of being
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obliged to translate a foreign language to obtain a true history of any part of our revolution. The facts, so far as I am acquainted with them, I will state to the best of my ability or recollection. Paulding, Williams and Van Wort I never saw before, or since, that event, I know nothing about them. The time and place where they stopped Major Andre, seems to justify the character you have drawn of them. The truth is, to the imprudence of the man, and not the patriotism of any one, is to be ascribed the capture of Major Andre. I was the first and only officer who had charge of him whilst at the Headquarters of the 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons, which was then at Esquire Gilbert's in South Salem. He was brought up by an adjutant and four men belonging to the Connecticut militia under the command of Lieut Col Jamison from the lines near Tarrytown, a character under the disguised name of John Anderson. He looked somewhat like a reduced gentleman. His small clothes were nankin, with long white top boots, in part, his undress military suit. His coat purple, with gold lace, worn somewhat threadbare, with a small brimmed tarnished beaver on his head. He wore his hair in a quieu with long, black, band and his clothes somewhat dirty. In this garb I took charge of him. After breakfast my Barber came in to dress me-after which, I requested him to undergo the same operation, which he did.
"When the ribbon was taken from his hair, I observed it full of powder. This circumstance, with others that occurred, induced me to believe I had no ordinary person in charge.
" He requested permission to take the bed, whilst his shirt and small clothes could be washed. I told him, that was needless, for a change was at his service,-which he accepted.
" We were close pent up in a bedroom with a guard at the door and window. There was a spacious yard before the door, which he de- sired he might be permitted to walk in with me. I accordingly dis- posed of my guard in such a manner as to prevent an escape. While walking together, he observed, he must make a confidant of somebody and he knew not a more proper person than myself, as I had appeared to befriend a stranger in distress. After settling the point between ourselves, he told me who he was, and gave me a short account of himself from the time he was taken at St. Johns in 1775 to that time. He requested pen and ink and wrote immediately to Gen1 Washing- ton, declaring who he was. About midnight the express returned with orders from Gen1 Washington to Col Sheldon to send Major Andre immediately to Headquarters.
" I started with him and before I got to North Salem meeting house
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met another express with a letter directed to the Officer who had Major Andre in charge, and which letter directed a circuitous route to Head- quarters for fear of re-capture, and gave an account of Arnold's de- sertion &c-with directions to forward the letter to Col Sheldon. I did so, and before I got to the end of my journey, I was joined by Captain Hoodgers first and after, by Major Talmadge and Captain Rogers. Having given you this clue, I proceed with the major's own story. He said, he came up the North river in the sloop of war Vulture for the purpose of seeing a person by flag of truce. That was not however accomplished. Of course he had to come ashore in a skiff, and after he had done his business, the wind was so high, the Dutch- man who took him ashore dare not venture to return him on board. The night following the militia had lined the shore, so that no attempt would be made with safety, consequently he was furnished, after chang- ing his clothes, with a continental horse and General Arnold's pass, and was to take a route by Peekskill, Crumpound, Pinesbridge, Sing Sing, Tarrytown, &c to New York.
"Nothing occurred to disturb him on his route until he arrived at the last place, except at Crumpound. He told me, his hair stood erect and his heart was in his mouth on meeting Col Samuel B. Webb of our army plump in the face. An acquaintance of his said that Col Stod- dert knew him and he thought that he was gone but they kept moving along and soon passed each other. He then thought himself past all danger and while ruminating on his good luck and hairbreadth escapes, he was assailed by three bushmen near Tarrytown, who ordered him to stand. He said to them, 'I hope gentlemen you belong to the lower party.' 'We do,' says one. 'So do I,' says he, 'and by the token of this ring and key you will let me pass.' 'I am a British officer on business of importance and must not be detained.' One of them took his watch from him and then ordered him to dismount. The moment that was done, he said he found he was mistaken, he must shift his tone. He says, ' I am happy gentlemen to find I am mis- taken'-' you belong to the upper party and so do I,' and to con- vince you of it here is Gen1 Arnold's pass, handing it to them. ' Damn Arnold's pass,' said they. 'You said you were a British officer. Where is your money ?' 'Gentlemen I have none about me,' he replied. 'You a British Officer with a gold watch and no money ! let us search him.' They did so, but found none. Says one, 'He has got his money in his boots, lets have them off and see.' They took off his boots and there they found his papers, but no money. They then examined his saddle, but found none. He said
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he saw they had such a thirst for money, he would put them in the way to get it, if they would be directed by him. He asked them to name their sum to deliver him at King'sbridge. They answered him in this way, ' If we deliver you at King'sbridge, we shall be sent to the sugar-house and you will save your money.' He says, 'If you will not trust my honor, two of you may stay with me and one shall go with the letter I will write, name your sum-the sum was agreed upon, but I cannot recollect whether it was 500 or 1000 guineas but the latter, I think, was the sum. They held a consultation a consider- able time and finally they told him if he wrote, a party would be sent out and take them and then they should all be prisoners. They said, ' they had concluded to take him to the commanding Officer ,on the lines.' They did so and retained the watch until Gen1 Washington sent for them to Tappan, when the watch was restored to Major Andre. Thus, you see, had money been at command, after the imprudent con- fession of Major Andre, or any security given that the British would have put confidence in, he might have passed on to Sir Henry Clinton's Headquarters with all his papers and Arnold's pass into the bargain. I do not recollect to have seen a true statement of this business in any history that has fallen into my hands. If my memory serves me, Arnold solicited and obtained, the command of West Point in conse- quence of his being an invalid and the reason why his negociation was not completed by flag of truce, I will state what Gen1 Washing- ton told the French ambassador, Lucerne. He stated on his route to Hartford, that he dined with Gen1 Arnold at Haverstraw at Joshua Smith's, where Arnold and Andre met. Gen1 Arnold shewed him a letter from Gen1 Robinson directed to Gen1 Israel Putnam, or Officer commanding West Point requesting an interview by flag on business of the first importance to the United States. Gen1 Arnold asked Gen1 Washington if he should go and hear what he had to say, Gen1 Wash- ington replied that it would be very improper for the Commander in chief of a post to meet anybody himself-he could send a trusty hand if he thought proper. But, he added, I had no more suspicion of Arnold than I had of myself. This accounts for Major Andre's failure to negociate by flag and his subsequent movements. I have thus complied with your request, giving you such facts, viz, what I had from the mouth of Major Andre and what I heard Gen1 Washing- ton tell the French minister soon after the execution of Andre."
J. Howard King, Esq., has in his possession the 5
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chair used by Major Andre while a prisoner in the hands of his grandfather, General Joshua King .*
Major Andre in all probability occupied the chair when he penned his celebrated letter to Washington, for by reference to Irving's "Life of Washington" it will be seen that this letter was written while at South Salem. Then it was that he was for the first made acquainted with the fact that the papers found se- creted in his boots had been forwarded to General Washington.
He immediately sat down and wrote the following lines :
"I beg your Excellency will be persuaded that no alteration in the temper of my mind or apprehensions for my safety induces me to take the step of address- ing you ; but that it is to secure myself from the im- putation of having assumed a mean character for treacherous purposes, or self-interest. It is to vindi- cate my fame that I speak, and not to solicit security.
" The person in your possession is Major John Andre, Adjutant-general of the British Army.
" The influence of one commander in the army of his adversary is an advantage taken in war. A corre- spondence for this purpose I held, as confidential (in the present instance) with his Excellency Sir Henry Clinton. To favor it, I agreed to meet upon ground not within the posts of either army, a person who was to give me intelligence. I came up in the Vulture man- of-war for this effect, and was fetched from the shore to the beach. Being there, I was told that the ap- proach of day would prevent my return, and that I must be concealed until the next night. I was in my regimentals and had fairly risked my person.
Against my stipulation, my intention, and without
* Through an oversight of the printer, this paragraph was inserted on p. 67 also.
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my knowledge beforehand, I was conducted within one of your posts. Thus was I betrayed into the vile condition of an enemy within your posts.
" Having avowed myself a British officer, I have nothing to reveal but what relates to myself, which is true, on the honor of an officer and a gentleman.
" The request I have made to your Excellency, and I am conscious that I address myself well, is, that in any rigor policy may dictate, a decency of conduct towards me may mark that, though unfortunate, I am branded with nothing dishonorable ; as no motive could be mine but the service of my king, and as I was involuntarily an impostor. "
It was here also that, having a talent for caricature, he amused himself by making a ludicrous sketch of himself and his rustic escort under march, and present- ing it to an officer in the room (probably General King), said gayly : "This will give you an idea of the style in which I have had the honor to be conducted to my present abode."
Although it is eminently fitting, it is none the less an illustration of the mysterious manner in which an overruling Providence arranges the affairs of this life, that the chair occupied by the illustrious prisoner of General King should, by mere accident seemingly, fall into the hands of his grandson, who a hundred years after the event recorded returns to make for himself a summer home on the exact spot where his grandfather had first resided after his marriage, and within a few miles of the house wherein Major Andre was confined.
The parish of Ridgebury is situated in the northern extremity of the town, and is separated from the vil- lage of Ridgefield by a gorge or ravine and a range of rugged hills formerly known as the Asproom ledge.
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So distinct and well defined is this dividing line that the two parishes present the appearance of two town- ships. This is the part of the town heretofore referred to as the New Patent, having been granted the town as part compensation for the oblong which was set off to the State of New York.
During the Revolutionary war, a goodly number of the inhabitants of this part of the town took up arms in defence of the country. Upon the approach of the British troops under General Tryon, on Sunday, April 27th, 1777, after the burning of the military stores at Danbury, most of the people fled through the rain that at the time was falling to a hill about one and one half miles north-west of the present Congregational Church.
From their position they could distinctly see the Regulars, as they were termed, pass through the village. First came a rude body of Light Horse, then three pieces of cannon, followed by the main body, said to be two thousand strong, with three pieces of cannon in the rear.
As they passed the house of Captain Timothy Bene- dict, standing on the corner of the road leading to Danbury, they fired two pistol shots at some person looking out at a window, but without doing any harm.
As the Light Horsemen passed through the out- skirts of the village on the west they fired at several persons near the New York State line. About 9.30 A.M., and within half an hour after Tryon's departure, Major-General Wooster with a detachment of two hun- dred men pursued him on the road leading to Ridge- field village.
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It appears that a raid had for some weeks been ex- pected, and in consequence of a rumor circulated to that effect on Sunday, April 13th, just two weeks pre- vious, the inhabitants, after secreting many of their valuables in wells and caves, fled with such articles as they could conveniently carry with them to a place of safety on a neighboring hill.
The late Hon. Benjamin Lynes, then a lad of some sixteen years, and a resident of Redding, was taken prisoner by General Tryon, and compelled to accom- pany him several miles toward Danbury, when, on ac- count of his youth, he was set at liberty.
In September, 1780, General Washington having received a communication from Count de Rocham- beau, commander-in-chief of the French forces then at Newport, requesting an interview at Hartford, Ct., he left Verplanck's Point on the Hudson on the 18th of the month, passed through Peekskill, and spent the night in Ridgebury, at the hotel of Ensign Samuel Keeler.
Mrs. Rebecca Boughton, daughter of Daniel Coley, Esq., then about twelve years of age, often spoke of having seen him and his aid on that occasion.
On the 23d of May, 1781, Washington again inter- viewed Count de Rochambeau. This time at Wethers- field, Ct., for the purpose of settling upon a definite plan of campaign. It is probable that at this inter- view arrangements were made to remove the French army to a point in the State near the York State line, so that they could at short notice join the American army ; for during the following month, Rochambeau and Duke de Lauzun (Lauzun-Biron) marched from
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Newport across the State of Connecticut and took post at Ridgebury.
During their stay in Ridgebury the main body of Rochambeau's army encamped on the ridge just east of the main street, on land now owned by Samuel S. St. John, Esq. One division took post on a hill about one mile south of the church near the school-house. At this point the army was about equally distant from Long Island Sound and the Hudson River. Count de Rochambeau and suite are said to have made their head-quarters at Ensign Keeler's hotel.
Several carts loaded with specie were placed under a strong guard, on the premises and near the dwelling of Daniel Coley, Esq., midway between the two divisions. The supplies for the whole French army were trans- ported in carts-810 in number-most of them drawn by two pairs of oxen and a horse, then designated as a five-cattle team.
The late Thomas Boughton, at that time too young to join the regular army, hired as teamster to the French, driving his father's team. He accompanied the supply train from Connecticut to Virginia, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. In after years he often spoke of the magnificent display made by Rochambeau's army on that occasion.
On the 2d of July, 1781, Duke de Lauzun left his encampment, and marched his forces to East Chester, N. Y., where he arrived on the morning of the 3d, his purpose being the capture or destruction of Delancy's corps of refugees at Morrisania.
Count de Rochambeau, with the main body of his army, probably broke camp at Ridgebury on the 4th
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of July, 1781, as they joined General Washington at Dobb's Ferry on the 6th.
A liberty-pole erected by the Whigs about the com- mencement of the war was in the night cut down by the Tories. This exasperated the former, who at once raised another, filling it for several feet with spikes and pieces of old iron, to protect it against a similar disaster. About the year 1860 some two feet of this pole was dug up by William M. Lynes, Esq. It was in a fair state of preservation and still contained many of its iron protectors.
During the war several families residing in Ridge- bury improved every opportunity to aid King George in his efforts to subdue the colonies, or, in other and plainer words, were Tories.
In some instances they converted their cellars into places of conealment and security, where such as had made themselves particularly obnoxious to the Whigs by their loyalty to the Crown could be safely secreted.
These hiding-places were approached by trap-doors made in the floor beneath beds. Through these doors the occupant was supplied with food by the less objec- tionable Tories. In some instances they were arrested by the government officers and imprisoned. One went back to England, but returned after the war, and was supported and buried at the expense of the town.
CHAPTER VII.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
THE Congregational Church was the first Christian organization of the town. Under date of October, A. D. 1712, the following act of General Assembly, then con- vened in Hartford, is recorded :
" Upon the petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Ridgefield requesting that the charges for the main- tenance of the ministry in the said Town of Ridgefield, may be levyed in equal proportion upon all the lands belonging to the several proprietors in the said Town, " This Assembly order that all the lands lying in the Township of Ridgefield be taxed in proportion for four years, towards the settling and maintaining of the min- istry in the said Town of Ridgefield."
As early as the year 1713, the Rev. Thomas Hawley, of Northampton, had come to the young settlement as a preacher of the Gospel. There were doubtless others who had preceded him as occasional supplies, but as the earliest records of the church were destroyed many years ago, the names of such and their terms of service are lost.
In the year 1714, General Assembly granted " unto the Inhabitants of the Town of Ridgefield to imbody into Church Estate and settle an orthodox minister among them."
Rev. Thomas Hawley was probably formally settled over the church as its pastor in the same year, and continued his labors among them until the time of his
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death, which occurred on the 8th of November, 1738, in the forty-ninth year of his age. Mr. Hawley was a graduate of Harvard College, and the ancestor of the families of the same name, so well known in the town. He held for a number of years many of the important offices of the town, and gained a reputation for energy and ability, originating and directing many of the en- terprises of the early settlers.
The year following the death of Mr. Hawley, Rev. Jonathan Ingersoll, a native of Stratford, Ct., was in- vited to settle in the gospel ministry. This invitation Mr. Ingersoll accepted, and was duly installed on the 8th of August, 1739. Previous to coming to Ridge- field he resided for some time in Newark, N. J., and was licensed by the Presbytery of New Jersey at Eliza- bethtown, February 15th, 1738.
At the meeting of the Western Consociation, Fair- field County, which installed Mr. Ingersoll, there were present the following ministers :
Rev. Robert Sturgeon, Rev. Moses Dickinson, Rev. Ebenezer Wright, Rev. John Goodsell, Rev. Ephraim Bostwick, Rev. William Gaylord.
Delegates : From Bedford, Captain Jonathan Miller ; Norwalk, John Copp, Esq .; Stamford, Abraham Davenport ; Greenfield, Benjamin Banks ; Wilton, Benjamin Hickox, Esq. ; Green's Farms, Samuel Couch, Esq.
Rev. Mr. Goodsell offered the first prayer and gave the right hand of fellowship. Rev. Mr. Dickinson preached the sermon and offered the prayer of ordina- tion. Rev. Mr. Sturgeon gave the charge, and Rev. Mr. Todd, who had been invited to sit with the council, offered the closing prayer.
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Mr. Ingersoll was a graduate of Yale College, and a man of a fine mind and a good heart. He served the church with great faithfulness until his death, which occurred October 2d, 1778, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
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